Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. The Coordinating Comprehensive Care for Children (4Children) project is a five-year, USAID-funded project designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS and other adversities.

4Children is a consortium of organizations that bring together decades of experience, expertise, and commitment to strengthening the capacity of key actors within a child’s system of care and support in order to improve the lives of children. 4Children is led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact, Plan International USA, and Westat. African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), Parenting Africa Network (PAN) and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) serve as collaborating partners.

The 4Children team is comprised of international and regional leaders in the field of family strengthening, community development, and child welfare and protection workforce and system strengthening. The team also has significant experience and expertise in the areas of monitoring, evaluation and research, capacity building, quality improvement, and linking community-based and clinical services to promote comprehensive care of children.

4Children in the DRC

4Children is in the midst of large scale-up in the DRC, increasing many-fold its coverage, timeframe, and budget. 4Children is working to strengthen the HIV-Sensitive Social Welfare System for Vulnerable Children by building the capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action, and National Solidarity (MINAS) at the national level (MINAS National Capacity Strengthening Intervention) and strengthening the continuum of care for OVC and households’ socio-economic capacity for children and families affected by HIV in selected health zones of Kinshasa (Kinshasa OVC Intervention).

At the national level, building on IntraHealth-led CapacityPlus investments in organizational capacity strengthening, 4Children provides technical assistance to the Secretary General’s Office and the Divisions for Child Protection (DISPE) and Planning (DEP) with an increased focus on child protection and welfare, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening linkages to pediatric HIV treatment. The main objectives of the MINAS National Capacity Strengthening Intervention are as follows:

· HIV-sensitive child protection and welfare legal and regulatory framework in the DRC has been strengthened

o MINAS' DISPE, DEP and SG office demonstrate technical leadership and coordination of the child protection response, in particular as it relates to HIV and AIDS

o The social welfare workforce effectively identifies and addresses the needs of vulnerable children including children affected by HIV and AIDS

o MINAS, through the DISPE & DEP, implements a functioning Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting (MER) system for the national HIV-sensitive child protection and welfare response

· DISPE, DEP and the SG Office’s leadership and governance with other ministries and NGOs has improved

o MINAS’ DISPE, DEP, and SG office have strengthened internal and external collaboration and coordination mechanisms to effectively lead and coordinate the child protection response

o The SG office, DISPE, and DEP at the MINAS have improved organizational capacity to ensure annual workplanning, budgeting, and internal monitoring and reporting

In Kinshasa, 4Children currently supports children affected by HIV and their caregivers through economic strengthening and Positive Parenting interventions, including the development of an enhanced referral system in PEPFAR scale-up health zones. With the project scale-up, the project will add to this support: case management for OVC, temporary consumption support for the most vulnerable OVC households, protection and financial education for children and adolescents, child protection capacity building for local organizations, and systems capacity strengthening to improve the overall continuum of care for OVC in their health and socio-economic needs. The main objectives of the Kinshasa OVC Intervention are as follows:

· Systems to support vulnerable child wellbeing are improved

o Case management system for OVC is improved

o Referral systems for OVC are expanded and improved

o HIV-sensitive child protection system within Kinshasa is improved through capacity of local government and community workers

· Vulnerable Children (including children living with HIV) access services

o Vulnerable children are tested for HIV

o Children living with HIV adhere to treatment

o Vulnerable Children have improved life skills

· Caregivers and communities are better able to care for vulnerable children

The 4Children DRC Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), with experience in OVC and child protection, and knowledge of HES, social services, and health services, manages implementation and reporting under the direction of the Chief of Party. S/he ensures quality of technical activities for both Kinshasa and national interventions and linkages between them. S/he supports the Chief of Party in attaining project goals and objectives, overseeing day-to-day planning, design, and project operations. S/he is responsible for ensuring integration and synergies across technical areas, preparing and supervising work plans, financial, logistical, and other documents including the development of assessments, analytical reports and evaluations, monitoring and evaluation, and donor reports.

A.Program Quality:

With the COP and key program staff, the DCOP ensures project objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.

In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and technical oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that objectives are achieved and that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.

Oversee regular internal and external reporting as well as the identification, documentation and dissemination of project results in various forms including media stories, lessons learned, case studies, etc. and support learning exchanges among USG IPs and other similar programs both within and outside of the DRC.

Ensure integration of program interventions to the extent feasible with other CRS programs and through linkages with other relevant organizations, in particular with the 4Children DRC Consortium.

In collaboration with the 4Children DRC consortium, identify needs for technical assistance in a timely manner and contribute to the development of scopes of work (SoW) as well as supervision of technical support.

Work closely with CRS and partner (IntraHealth[1]) staff to ensure that data are used and analyzed as the basis for process documentation, program planning, learning and orientation and program performance measurement.

B.Management and Administration:

Manage program budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources.

Ensure staff compliance with all CRS and IntraHealth (for the positions employed by IntraHealth and seconded to CRS[2]) administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable to the donor regulations.

Request approval in a timely manner for program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification from the Deputy Country Representative/Programs.

Ensure that the project has all the necessary documentation to support all expenses and achievement.

C.Human Resource Management:

Alongside the COP, lead, manage and supervise a team of CRS and partner (IntraHealth[3]) staff to meet program objectives.

Mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork. Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and provide input for IntraHealth’s[4] performance management system.

Participate in the recruitment of other program staff and the selection and coordination of consultants.

Key Working Relationships: Internal: COP, 4Children HQ staff, Finance and Compliance Manager, MEAL Coordinator, and other CRS country program staff/managers as needed.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

Serves with Integrity

Models Stewardship

Cultivates Constructive Relationships

Promotes Learning

Qualifications and Skills:

Minimum Master’s Degree in Development, Health or Social Services, or related field required

At least 5 years of relevant management, supervisory, and technical experience in OVC programs; child protection and welfare; and/or capacity and system strengthening.

Proven experience coordinating with national and local social welfare and health authorities in developing contexts.

Minimum 3 years managing significant USG-funded or programs of similar complexity required; knowledge of key USG regulations including, but not limited to, USAID 22 CFR and Part 226 Administration of Assistance Awards to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations, 22 CFR Part 145 Grants and Agreements with Non-Profits, OMB Circulars A-122, Cost principles for non-profit organizations and A-133 Audit of states, local governments, and non-profits preferred.

Experience in Household Economic Strengthening; Case Management and Referral System Strengthening; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting a plus.

Previous experience in DRC or in the Central African Region preferred.

Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.

Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages required. Advocacy skills and facilitation skills are a plus.

Flexibility to work both in a team and independently.

Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility.

Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.

Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required, up to 30%.

Excellent English and French oral and written communication skills required.